Smoke from marsh fire closes U.S. 90 near Houma

Published: Friday, January 17, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 17, 2014 at 10:16 p.m.

Smoke from marsh fire closed U.S. 90 in both directions Friday afternoon between the La. 316 and La. 182 exits near Houma.

The roughly 8-mile stretch of U.S. 90 was closed at 4:23 p.m. because low visibility created a safety hazard, State Police Troop C spokesman Evan Harrell said. The four-lane highway was reopened about two hours later after firefighters got the blaze under control and smoke dissipated.

During the closure, drivers said they faced a traffic nightmare on roads leading to 90.

Traffic headed east on U.S. 90 was diverted south onto La. 316, also called Bayou Blue Road, then La. 182 north and back to U.S. 90 at the La. 182 on-ramp. Westbound traffic was diverted onto La. 182 south, Bayou Blue Road north and back onto U.S. 90 west at the La. 316 on-ramp.

Residents reported seeing and smelling the fire. Traffic delays of up to an hour were reported on La. 182.

“I live near St. Louis church, and traffic is just about stopped in both directions on Bayou Blue Road,” Houma resident Keri Bullock wrote on The Courier's Facebook page. “We don't smell the smoke, but we can see an orange glow now that it's getting dark.”

The fire, whose cause was unknown, was burning in a stretch of marsh to the south of U.S. 90 and was discovered early Friday afternoon, said Schriever Fire Chief Ken Pitre. Winds pushed smoke north across the highway.

The Raceland and Bayou Blue volunteer fire departments tried to fight the blaze Friday, he said.

“Two fire departments went in to fight it, but was just too big,” Pitre said late Friday afternoon.

At that time, he said it looked like firefighters might have to let the blaze burn itself out, something he suspected could take a day.

Efforts to reach officials with the Raceland and Bayou Blue fire departments were unsuccessful late Friday. Harrell said a trooper would monitor the scene overnight in case the blaze flared up again.

<p>Smoke from marsh fire closed U.S. 90 in both directions Friday afternoon between the La. 316 and La. 182 exits near Houma.</p><p>The roughly 8-mile stretch of U.S. 90 was closed at 4:23 p.m. because low visibility created a safety hazard, State Police Troop C spokesman Evan Harrell said. The four-lane highway was reopened about two hours later after firefighters got the blaze under control and smoke dissipated.</p><p>During the closure, drivers said they faced a traffic nightmare on roads leading to 90. </p><p>Traffic headed east on U.S. 90 was diverted south onto La. 316, also called Bayou Blue Road, then La. 182 north and back to U.S. 90 at the La. 182 on-ramp. Westbound traffic was diverted onto La. 182 south, Bayou Blue Road north and back onto U.S. 90 west at the La. 316 on-ramp.</p><p>Residents reported seeing and smelling the fire. Traffic delays of up to an hour were reported on La. 182.</p><p>“I live near St. Louis church, and traffic is just about stopped in both directions on Bayou Blue Road,” Houma resident Keri Bullock wrote on The Courier's Facebook page. “We don't smell the smoke, but we can see an orange glow now that it's getting dark.”</p><p>The fire, whose cause was unknown, was burning in a stretch of marsh to the south of U.S. 90 and was discovered early Friday afternoon, said Schriever Fire Chief Ken Pitre. Winds pushed smoke north across the highway.</p><p>The Raceland and Bayou Blue volunteer fire departments tried to fight the blaze Friday, he said.</p><p>“Two fire departments went in to fight it, but was just too big,” Pitre said late Friday afternoon. </p><p>At that time, he said it looked like firefighters might have to let the blaze burn itself out, something he suspected could take a day.</p><p>Efforts to reach officials with the Raceland and Bayou Blue fire departments were unsuccessful late Friday. Harrell said a trooper would monitor the scene overnight in case the blaze flared up again.</p>